Norfolk Southern believes a software defect — not a hacker — was the cause of the widespread computer outage that forced the railroad to park all of its trains for most of Monday. The railroad said Friday that it traced the problem to a defect in the software one of its vendors was using to perform maintenance on its data storage systems. Both the railroad’s primary and backup systems became unresponsive at the same time. The Atlanta-based railroad reiterated that it hasn’t found any evidence of hacking. Regulators have been scrutinizing Norfolk Southern’s operations ever since one of its trains derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February and an assortment of toxic chemicals caught fire.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — After nearly 30 years, Pennsylvania’s new governor plans to end a contract with an organization that distributes funds to anti-abortion counseling centers. Similar centers are gaining attention since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The nonprofit Real Alternatives was the first to secure taxpayer dollars for its services, and it inspired other states to start their own programs. Such centers are under renewed scrutiny from abortion rights advocates for counseling against abortions and facing allegations of perpetuating misinformation. Republican states have turned more attention to funding them, while Democratic states have sought to thwart them.

File – A CSX freight train passes through Homestead, Pa., Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. A Trump-era rule allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped, regulators announced Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Trump-era rule allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped. The rule was challenged in court right after it was announced in the summer of 2020. The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says the uncertainty about the rule on transporting the fuel known as LNG kept railroads and gas companies from investing in it. So railroads never hauled any LNG.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing a single-lane restrictions on Business Loop 376 (Route 3160) in Moon Township, Allegheny County will begin Tuesday, September 5 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions in both directions will occur weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. between I-376 and University Boulevard to allow crews to conduct seal coat operations on the shoulders. The work will continue through Thursday, September 7.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Students with disabilities in Pennsylvania will now receive free support through the public education system for an additional year than current policy dictates. A settlement with the state’s Department of Education was announced Thursday. Under the new policy that goes into effect Sept. 5, students will be eligible to receive free services until they turn 22, rather than aging out of the program the summer after they turn 21. Students who aged out during the last school year under the old policy will be able to re-enroll in the upcoming academic year. The new policy will continue offering students support services to help them transition into adulthood, as well as speech therapy and occupational therapy.